Drs. Lee and Katie Graber at Graber Orthodontics understand how important your children are to you. That's why they encourage you to bring them in for an early orthodontic exam at approximately age 7, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. Not all patients require interceptive first phase orthodontics as a part of two-phase orthodontic treatment. In fact, most patients do not – less than 2 in 10 youngsters have a jaw discrepancy to the level that requires interceptive care.
What is the advantage of two-phase orthodontic treatment?
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. In most cases, this treatment is focused at intercepting a developing dental/skeletal problem. The major advantage of a two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to utilize a patient's growth potential to improve the final orthodontic result. Guiding development instead of correcting problems that arise with adverse growth & tooth eruption patterns can provide patients with decreased treatment needs as they mature.
Early Orthodontic Treatment: Your foundation for a lifetime of beautiful teeth
Bite problems may be present at a young age which, left unattended, can be difficult to correct at a later age or even cause irreparable damage to the permanent teeth. Even one crooked tooth can throw off the bite, hinder proper cleaning and cause functional problems as your child grows older, including gum disease, cavities and speech disorders. The goal of first phase treatment is to develop the jaw size in order to accommodate all the permanent teeth and to relate the upper and lower jaws to each other.
Planning now can save your smile later
Early detection and treatment can prevent your child from needing costly and time-consuming dental care in the future. You'll be happy to know that Dr. Lee and Dr. Katie always look at conservative treatment options first. They use the latest interceptive methods to correct problems before they become severe enough to require surgical correction. These include expansion devices, partial braces, space maintainers, Hawley retainers, Herbst® appliances and habit appliances. Early intervention can reduce treatment time for your child's braces later on and provide a stable, healthy bite for a lifetime.
Resting (Observation) Period
In this phase, the remaining permanent teeth are allowed to erupt while Drs. Lee and Katie Graber monitor the jaw growth and development.
Monitoring your teeth's progress
In other words, at the end of the first phase of treatment, all permanent teeth are not in their final positions. Final detailing of permanent teeth will be accomplished in the second phase of treatment. Selective removal of certain primary (baby) teeth may be recommended in the interest of enhancing normal tooth eruption during this resting phase. Therefore, periodic recall appointments for observation are necessary, usually on a six-month basis. These resting period observation check-ups are completed at no additional cost to you.
Second Phase Treatment: Stay healthy and look attractive
The goal of the second phase is to make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth. When this equilibrium is established, the teeth will function together properly. There are occasions where first phase (early orthodontic intervention) is the only treatment that a patient will need.
Treatment Timing & Retention
First phase orthodontic treatment usually lasts between 10-14 months. Interceptive types of appliances were used in the first phase, as dictated by the individual jaw/tooth problem. The second phase is initiated when all permanent teeth have erupted, and usually requires braces on all the teeth for a period of time. Most second phase orthodontic treatments are over a period of 12-18 months. Complex, complicated surgical orthodontic treatments can be as long as 24 months. Retainers are always recommended to be worn to ensure you maintain your beautiful smile.
